(a) An employee who suffers a service-connected injury or illness incurred in the course of and arising out of employment with the City shall be eligible for injury leave. Injury leave shall be available for up to 120 workdays. This 120 workday paid leave is fully paid by the City, and is in lieu of Workers' Compensation. An employee who applies for injury leave will apply to the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) for medical benefits only, and not lost income benefits. The employee may apply for lost income benefits toward the end of the injury leave if it is known that the absence will continue beyond the paid leave, or the leave may be extended at the direction of the City. During the 120-workday absence the employee shall not be charged sick time.
(b) During any such period of injury leave, the employee shall continue to earn seniority, pension credit, sick leave or sick leave credit, and vacation time. Once Workers' Compensation begins making payments (after the 120 working days, per subsection (a) above) to the employee for lost wages, the employee may utilize sick time or other approved leave of absence to supplement Workers' Compensation benefits. The maximum period for injury leave (both wage replacement by the City and BWC payments) shall not exceed twelve (12) months.
(Ord. 28-99. Passed 8-24-99.)